Google unveils Nexus S smartphone

Successor to Nexus One will run Android 2.3

Google has finally unveiled the Google Nexus S - successor to its 'superphone', the Google Nexus One , which launched in January this year.

The Google Nexus S, which has been developed in conjunction with Samsung, runs Gingerbread, the latest edition of the search engine's mobile platform, Android. Version 2.3 of the OS offers a number of improvements including an improved copy and paste function, a new keyboard, a gyroscope sensor support which is useful for games and support for VoIP.

Users will benefit from feature Near Field Communications (NFC) technology built into the handset that allows them to pay for goods and services by simply tapping their handset on a special pad in a store. Google revealed last month that its next handset would include the technology. The technology can also be used to read NFC tags that can be embedded in all kinds of everyday objects like movie posters, stickers and t-shirts.

The handset, which is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird processor with dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), features a 4in display and a 'Contour Display', which Google claims is designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and along the side of your face. Google also said the display is 1.5 times brighter than traditional LCD displays and reflects up to four times less glare.

Users will also benefit from a 16GB memory and front and rear facing cameras.

"As the lead device for Gingerbread, Nexus S combines great hardware with great software to provide users with a fast and powerful mobile experience," said Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google.

"We believe Nexus S will drive innovation in the mobile space that will benefit our users, our partners and developers working on Android, and the entire mobile industry."

The Google Nexus S will be available from the Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy on contracts priced from £35 per month, or SIM-free for £549.99.